Shelby’s Blog #5: Paying for Bengal Life
What do lawn mowers, teddy bears, and dance have to do with college? Keep reading to find out!
A few years ago, I had a conversation with a friend who was preparing for her final year of college. I remembered her saying, “I see all of these commercials on TV advertising back-to-college stuff. It’s ridiculous! No college student has $300 to spend on new bedding!” Now that I am going to be a college student, I’ve realized that she was 100% right. The cold hard truth is...college is expensive!
I started saving my money at a young age. My parents didn’t believe in a weekly or monthly allowance. My siblings and I were expected to do our chores and then find our own ways to earn money. My first job was helping my older siblings with their lawn mowing business. I picked up sticks, moved the hoses, and walked around with a pair of scissors looking for places they “accidentally” missed. Honestly, it was more of a babysitting business for them. I did earn something like $1.00 per lawn though!
My first real business was “Hats By A Nine Year Old.” I would crochet a child’s hat, wrap a teddy bear’s arms around it, and crochet a matching hat for the bear. I sold these bears and hats at local bazaars and festivals. After I realized what I was capable of, the wheels in my brain started turning.
Over the next eleven years, I sold dish scrubbers, mowed lawns, detailed vehicles, participated in the county fair, taught gymnastics, and started my own dance studio. With all of these money makers, I was able to save a little dough for college.
When I learned about this magical thing called scholarship money I was sold! Who wouldn’t want to get some free money to pay for their college education?! I talked to my high school counselor and was able to get a list of scholarships to apply for. I spent at least 30 hours working on scholarships, researching foundations, and writing essays. At times I thought, “Why am I doing this? I will just work my way through college. I can’t write any more essays!” Despite my thoughts, I decided to continue filling out applications. The results you might ask? I have four years of tuition paid for, and enough scholarship money to cover my living expenses for the first three years. The hand cramps definitely paid off.
I still plan to work during college, either a part time job or starting another personal business, but it is nice to have the burden of tuition lifted off my shoulders. I feel like college is a great investment, because it is the next step toward getting a career and earning money for the rest of your life. Normally a person who has graduated from college, or has some form of higher education, will be able to find a higher paying job than a person who does not have the same education. In conclusion, yes college is expensive. Yes, you can pay for it! There are so many opportunities for teenagers to get jobs, apply for scholarships and grants, or receive financial aid. If I could give advice to students planning to go to college, I would say, “Work hard in everything you do, and apply. Apply for everything you are eligible. I promise you won’t regret it.”
